How To Understand Cancer

Understanding cancer involves knowing all you can about it as well as accepting the reality of cancer. Here is how you could understand cancer as much as possible:

Know about cancer. Cancer is a condition where abnormal cells grow and multiply, causing complications in the organs and tissues where they are found. They could also spread to other parts of the body through the body’s blood and lymph nodes. Cancer is categorized according to the place where it is found as well as the stage of the disease, or how much cancerous cells have grown and spread.

Cancer is caused by a lot of factors in the person’s environment as well as inside of him. Cancer can be acquired by inheriting genes from parents who carry cancer-triggering genes. It can also be caused by environmental factors such as exposure to radiation, carcinogenic or cancer generating substances, and chemicals such as benzene in air pollution, asbestos, nickel and chromium. Habits can also cause cancer such as smoking, drinking and overeating. Know about what causes cancer by looking for articles in the Internet or reading books and other printed material.

Living a healthy lifestyle and avoiding cancer-causing chemicals, materials, substances, procedures and environments can help prevent cancer. Eat a healthy diet and drink plenty of water. Avoid smoking and drinking alcohol. Exercise regularly and get adequate sleep at night. Know the things that can trigger cancers by researching about these. If you can’t avoid them, wear protective gear and minimize direct contact with these.

Know the symptoms of cancer. These are lumps, fever, pains, extreme weight loss, persistent cough, and changes in urination and bowel movements. If you’re experiencing any unusual symptoms, see your doctor in order to be diagnosed immediately. Early detection increases the chance of recovery.

If you are diagnosed with cancer, you can understand it more by talking to your oncologist. Ask important questions such as what type of cancer you have, where it is located, at what stage it is at, is the cancer spreading or not and at what rate, to what parts of your body it has spread, and how the growth and distribution of cancerous cells will affect your health. You could also ask questions regarding treatment options such as the effects and side effects of each particular treatment, the costs, alternative options, and what to expect before, during and after treatment. You could also ask for developments in cancer treatments or research about these.

You could ask your oncologist about methods you could take to make living with cancer easier. If you have been prescribed with a health regimen, be sure to stick to it faithfully to make treatments more effective. Ask about how to do it properly and be sure you understand what you have to do to avoid making mistakes.

Being diagnosed with cancer may come as a shock, so be psychologically and emotionally prepared by going to counseling services. You could also join support groups for cancer to help you understand your condition and cope with it more easily.

Once you’ve known all you can about cancer and know how to deal with it, you can handle it more effectively. Continue your research and don’t give up in your quest for better health.